Custom Earphone Sleeves

Bob24

I am thinking of having custom sleeves made for my Sennheiser IE80 (never really found comfortable enough tips).

Would anyone know a good company/shop in Dublin that could take ear impressions and have the sleeves made? (and roughly what the total cost would be).

I've seen ACS sleeve recommended on this thread with a link to a place to have the impressions done in Dublin, but the link is broken and ACS don't seem to mention custom sleeves on their website (would they have stopped making them?)

PPC

They have them listed on http://www.acscustom.com/ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39&Itemid=90 for €150
List of retailers here http://www.acscustom.com/ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63&Itemid=42

They don't have the IE80 on the supported list, just IE6/7/8

Bob24

Cheers! Somehow I couldn't reach the page you linked from their homepage. And if it fits the IE8 it should't be a problem with the IE80 - they look exactly the same and only the internals are different.

Would you by chance know if the price they are quoting includes the ear impression?

PPC

It was when I had mine done.
Paid the whole lot to the audiologist and got my tips a few weeks later. Didn't get my impressions though.

Bob24

PPC wrote: »

It was when I had mine done.
Paid the whole lot to the audiologist and got my tips a few weeks later. Didn't get my impressions though.

Great, thanks a lot (sorry I actually just saw you already answered that question in the 2012 thread).

Since you have a pair, if you don't mind I have a few more questions as I have never has custom sleeves before:
- do they go very deep into the ear canal? (I usually prefer round silicon tips as I am not very comfortable with foam tips which are meant to be inserted a bit deeper and tighter, but I assume with customer made confort level should be in a different league?)
- would you say they provide a lot more isolation compared to usual silicon tips when used with the same IEMs or is the difference minimal? (the IE80 only provide average isolation which I actually don't really want to increase too much as I often use them walking down the street and want to keep some awareness of my surroundings)
- and overall, a few years down the line are you happy with them?

PPC

They go pretty deep but they feel fine, and after they warm up a bit from being in you don't even feel them.

I've only used Etymotic's tips, which have excellent isolation already, so I'm not sure how those normal silicon tips compare.
If I have music on I can hear sirens on ambulances/fireengines but I can't hear buses or trucks passing.
Funny thing is I'm more aware with them in as I pay extra attention because I can't hear anything.

I'm pretty happy with mine apart from I didn't know about getting an open mouth impression at the time and I think this would have made them a bit better.
I got them to see if I'd be happy with a custom fit before I got custom IEMs, and I'd be more than happy to get some now if I could get them made out of the same material as the ACS ones.

Bob24

Excellent, thanks for all the useful information. Have sent a message to one of the retailers on their website to confirm the full price.

Bob24

Argh ... bad news from the reseller:

Hi there,

Unfortunately we have ceased production of ACS Products in Ireland, and the UK factory no longer supply custom sleeves.

Apologies for the inconvenience.

I also read somewhere on the head-fi forums that ACS are not making them anymore.

Take good care of yours PPC, it seems like they are your last ones ;-)

And so if anyone can recommend another supplier fro customer sleeves I would greatly appreciate (150 euros would be my absolute maximum budget, but cheaper would be nicer).